While AMC is set to lose two of its flagship series fairly soon (Breaking Bad ends its run this summer while Mad Men is poised to conclude with next year’s season seven), the network is making arrangements to ensure that it remains at the forefront of cable programming. This summer will see the debut of the Mark Strong-fronted crime drama series Low Winter Sun, and now AMC is making moves on a sci-fi series with a pedigreed team behind the scenes: Oblivion director Joseph Kosinski and Pacific Rim screenwriter Travis Beacham. Hit the jump for much more.

Per THR, AMC is developing a futuristic cop drama pilot called Ballistic City with Joseph Kosinski attached to direct and executive produce and Travis Beacham writing the script. The potential series is described as a mix between Chinatown and Blade Runner and centers on “a former cop who is thrust into the criminal underworld of a city housed in a generational spaceship destined for an unknown world.” Beacham is onboard to write the pilot and executive produce alongside Kosinski, who has agreed to helm the pilot should AMC take a liking to the script.

The network is apparently eyeing the series as a companion for The Walking Dead, which broke ratings records left and right with its recent third season despite some creative shuffling behind the scenes. With Tron: Legacy director Kosinski onboard we can certainly expect a fantastic-looking pilot, and buzz is incredibly strong for Beacham’s Warner Bros. tentpole Pacific Rim, which was directed by Guillermo del Toro.

There’s no word on how soon production might begin, and the first step is AMC actually ordering a pilot. From there, should the network pick Ballistic City up to series, the earliest we could see it would probably be early 2014. The Walking Dead typically premieres in October, with a midseason hiatus splitting each season up into two halves. If we see Ballistic City move forward, I wouldn’t be shocked to see it premiere alongside the second half of The Walking Dead season four in February or so.

AMC is currently mulling over a number scripts and pilots that they have in the works, including the period piece Turn, Halt & Catch, and an untitled drama from Tony Goldwyn and Richard LaGravanese. The network is also developing another show from The Walking Dead producer Gale Anne Hurd called Area 51, the Robert Kirkman adaptation Thief of Thieves, and a potential Goodfellas series. Though the network isn’t exactly at a lack for potential content, I’d be quite surprised if we didn’t see Ballistic City make it to the airwaves given the talent involved.

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